The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) recently appealed to the US Department of Commerce that China-based firms may assemble solar modules with solar cells produced outside of China for the US market. This is likely to affect Taiwan-based solar cell makers that have been accepting OEM orders from China-based peers.
Solar makers noted that if the appeal gets established into a case, it will affect the development of the solar market. In addition, solar makers added, China-based funds are important for solar PV system projects in the US, and if the US government includes buying solar cells from outside China into its punitive policies, it will dissuade project investments from China to the US market.
In fact, when the US began the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation against China-based firms, many China-based firms began procuring solar cells from Taiwan-based makers to avoid being taxed. If the appeal gets established, on one hand, orders to Taiwan will be shifted, but on the other, Taiwan-based firms may have an opportunity to establish own-brand business in the US market. However, solar firms pointed out, although OEM orders from China have unsatisfactory prices, due to limited access to funds and the lack of brand recognition, it will be hard for Taiwan-based firms to establish brands in a short time period in the US market.
